Kipps (The new half a sixpence musical)

At the turn of the last century, Arthur Kipps, an orphan, is brought up in Kent by his Aunt and Uncle. They lead a simple life and Arthur enjoys playing by the lighthouse with his best friend, Ann. As a teenager he leaves to go and work in Folkestone, eventually becoming an over-worked draper's assistant at Shalford's Bazaar.  

Arthur is a charming but ordinary young man who, along with his fellow apprentices, dreams of a better and more fulfilling world.  One day, he is knocked over by an eccentric actor and writer called Chitterlow who announces that he has just used the name ‘Arthur Kipps’ in one of his plays. He says that he likes to use real names and he had come across this name in the newspaper – some lawyers are looking for Arthur! Chitterlow goes to the lawyers for Kipps and discovers that he has inherited a fortune. This unexpected money propels him into high society and confuses everything he thought he knew about life. As Chitterlow helped Arthur out, Arthur agrees to back his new play, “The Right Horse”, and the writer leaves in order to produce his play.

Arthur falls in love with Helen Walsingham, whose family have secretly lost their wealth. Her brother, James, offers to become Arthur’s financial advisor and her mother is desperate for Arthur to marry Helen so that the family can regain their status and become rich again. Arthur proposes to Helen but, having met up with Ann again, he realises that he is more suited to a life with Ann. Meanwhile, James has been speculating with Arthur’s money and loses it all – Arthur is poor again. Ann and Arthur decide to get married.  On their wedding day they are surprised by the sudden entrance of Chitterlow, who announces that his play is a resounding success and so Kipps is rich once again!